The It Couple

Chapter Seventeen

Sango tried not to stare or be starstruck at any given moment in her daily life, but it was still hardest when she was in a limo, one-on-one with Kikyou Higurashi, especially when Kikyou Higurashi was dressed to the nines in a stark white pantsuit with dark sunglasses, a gold watch that cost as much as the average car, and five-inch designer stilettos. It was also hard not to feel awkward right now during this silent car ride, because Kikyou Higurashi was mad as hell, tapping her foot on the carpeted floor in silent fury.

She'd screamed at Sango for a solid twenty minutes about her bad press and her reputation on the line and her idiot, man-stealing sister before Sango had managed to talk her down and convince her that she, Sango, was entirely on her side and working on her behalf. Woman, Sango had thought, I am trying to win you an Oscar, so you should probably stop yelling at me so much before I stop caring whether it happens or not.

Sango had told her that she knew Inuyasha well enough to know that his feelings for Kikyou were still there, still strong, and that his actions toward Kagome wouldn't have been anything more than residual brotherly instinct, surely. Kikyou was hard to convince of this, at first. I guess she's more perceptive than we all give her credit for. She knows enough to feel threatened by this.

The limo rolled to a stop at Inuyasha's gate. Sango watched Kikyou glance out the window at the mansion up the hill, then seemingly scoff a little. What'sa matter, Kikyou? Don't like the color? Or are you just mad he moved on without you?

As the driver buzzed the intercom and announced them, Sango tentatively spoke. "Please remember, Miss Higurashi," she said, "that above all else, she's your sister. I don't think she would ever mean to hurt or disrespect you. Nor, too, would Inuyasha. The important thing now is to forgive and move forward with our awards season."

"Kindly don't speak to me unless I've asked you a question," Kikyou snapped, pulling out her compact from her purse and checking her red lipstick for perfection.

Listen here you daffy stuck-up little- The scrappy street-kid side Sango had promised never to show to anyone ever again was trying to claw its way out, but she merely smiled warmly and opened the limo door when the vehicle stopped at the front drive.

Kikyou got out after her, long Hermes scarf whipping Sango in the face as she passed, all but stomping up to the front door, hands clenched in fists.

"Oh god," Sango muttered to herself. She had to just cross her fingers and pray that Kikyou would do the smart thing here.

The door opened and Nazuna tentatively let them in. Sango took in the scene in the spacious living room.

There were Inuyasha and Miroku at the bar smoking. Inuyasha looked like he had hastily changed into something casual but presentable - a nice pair of tailored jeans and a button-down that wasn't quite tucked in properly in the back. Sango bit her lip to stop the smirk from rising to her face.

Kagome, on the other hand, was seated on the dark leather couch, wearing what looked like boxer shorts and an NYU sweatshirt so large her hands were lost in it. She was hugging her knees and looking anxious, even more so when her eyes shot up to meet Sango's.

Sango winked at her to reassure her, but it didn't seem to register.

There was a heavy pause. Everyone in the room froze and everyone was staring at Kikyou. Nazuna gently shut the front door with a click.

Kikyou removed her sunglasses and scarf and handed them to Nazuna behind her.

Kagome slowly stood up, her face a mask of fear and her eyes welling with tears.

And then Kikyou revealed once again why she was the greatest actress of their generation. She didn't overdo it, didn't make it dramatic. She just smiled softly, pityingly, and held out her arms without a word, offering the magnanimous, forgiving embrace of the goddess.

Kagome gave a tiny sob and rushed forward into her sister's arms, burying her face into her shoulder. She looked so grateful.

Sango felt a little ill. She cast one tiny look at Miroku, who raised his glass ever so slightly behind Inuyasha's back as if he were saying "Well done, miracle worker."

Inuyasha, for his part, just looked stunned and a little touched.

"Are you okay, honey?" Kikyou said softly, folding her arms around her younger sister, "Don't cry. We all make mistakes. I know you didn't mean any of it."

Kagome sobbed a little louder and clung to Kikyou's arms.

Eventually, Kagome let go, and Kikyou walked over to Inuyasha, who, Sango noticed, immediately cleared his throat and stubbed out his cigarette. Kikyou hated smoking.

Miroku immediately found an excuse to cross the room and join Sango, leaving the two ex-flames standing alone. Good boy, Sango's eyes told him, and he winked without changing his expression.

Inuyasha tried his best to look casual as his former fiancee approached, but damn, was it hard. She had that look in her eyes that had him reminiscing about the good old days, when it had all been so simple, when it had all been a struggle but they had weathered it together.

His eyes flashed to Kagome, who was still standing in the center of the room, and their gazes met all-too-briefly before Kikyou was face-to-face with him.

"Thanks for taking care of her," Kikyou said softly, placing a hand on his cheek, "You really are a wonderful guy, being the big brother she never had."

Over her shoulder, he saw Kagome flinch a little and he remembered her words from last night. "I don't want a fucking big brother, not anymore."

He frowned. "I'm not her big brother. I'm her friend."

"Of course," Kikyou said smoothly, "and you were there to watch out for her when I wasn't. I'll forever be grateful."

In any other situation, Inuyasha might have pointed out that it was usually Kagome watching out for Kikyou at any given moment, but right now Kikyou just looked so...sincere.

"Like I said," Kikyou continued, "we've all made mistakes before." Her eyes were downcast as she gently took his hand and held it in both of hers. Inuyasha's heart thumped in his chest. Did she mean-

"Come on, Kagome," Kikyou said quickly, looking up once more to meet Inuyasha's eyes before releasing him slowly, then turning and leading Kagome by the waist toward the door.

Inuyasha swallowed, his heart still pounding. What in the hell was going on?

Miroku took another drag of his smoke as Kikyou and Kagome passed by (Kikyou pointedly frowning and waving the smoke away with a brief look of disgust at him), restraining himself from dancing for joy. It might not be appropriate at this moment. He was also restraining himself from grabbing Sango and kissing the daylights out of her. He had no clue at this point what she had said to Kikyou to get her to act like this, but the girl was a goddamn master puppeteer.

"Wait, Miss Kagome!" Nazuna rushed down the western hallway and returned with her arms full of the huge beautiful gown Kagome had worn the night before. On top of the pile were a pair of...was that black lace? And were they split up the side?

Kagome stopped short, face red as a tomato, and quickly took the pile of clothing from the maid's outstretched arms. "Thank you, Nazuna," she said quietly, quickly shoving the underwear under the folds of the tulle skirt fabric.

Miroku was pretty sure he and Sango might have been the only ones who noticed the look of pure venom Kikyou shot for a split second at the back of her younger sister's head, but in a blink it was gone.

"Just one more thing, before you go," Sango said quickly, trying to get Kikyou's head back in the game, "We got rid of all the party photos and the slanderous stuff, but we still have Kagome on record as Kouga Okami's date to the HFA's last night. She's public interest now and we need to address that."

Kikyou turned to Sango with a flat, "Excuse me?"

"The photos were only up for an hour, if that," Sango continued, "but even though most of the gossip world won't know what Kagome got up to last night, they'll still start recognizing her when she accompanies you to the rest of the events this season."

Kikyou's grip must have tightened on her sister's shoulder, because Kagome winced a little.

"What do we do?" Kagome said, "Should I just disappear for a while? Get Kikyou a new assistant?"

"I think that would do more harm than good," Miroku swept in deftly, "The second we just make Kagome disappear from the public eye, the more interested the vultures become. They'll wonder what we have to hide." He didn't add that by adding and deleting those blurry party photos to celeb-tattle-dot-com, he and Sango had done just that - bait the public interest. Now dance, little puppets, dance.

"So what do you propose?" Kikyou said, drawing herself up to her full height and folding her arms. Ah, theeeere she is. That's the Kikyou we know and remember. Best not to push too hard or this whole dang opera falls apart.

"Just this," Sango said, actually looking nervous for a split second as her eyes shot to Miroku's, "We'll start bringing Kagome along on red carpets as your guest and not your assistant. She'll attend premieres, sit at your table at all the awards shows, be shown cheering in your corner, if you will. It's a great angle - the younger sister showing up, the family bond accentuated, all the way to the Oscars. Everyone loves a good bond between siblings. Look at Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal."

Kagome's eyes were wide with shock. Kikyou's, however, narrowed slightly with thought.

"What about her job?" Kikyou said in a clipped tone.

"I'm sure Kagome can get everything taken care of like she always does," Sango said, casting the younger sister a warm smile, "It's just now she gets a seat at the table for the time being."

Miroku could almost see the wheels turning in Kikyou's head before she finally turned to her sister with a smile.

"Well, Kagome," she said, her voice sweet as syrup, "Guess you'll get to see what it's like to be me for a while. Aren't you excited?"

Kagome looked a little faint. "S-sure," she said, smiling weakly.

"Now wait just a goddamn minute," Inuyasha said, looking at Kagome with not a little concern, "She shows up on one red carpet, a stupid decision, I'll grant you, and now she's some sort of prop?"

"Don't think of it like that," Miroku said, "Think of it as Kagome getting her turn to shine."

At that, Kikyou shot another daggerlike glare into the back of her younger sister's head, but once again, it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Kagome," he said, seemingly ignoring everyone else in the room, "Are you okay with this?"

How touching, Inuyasha, but you're killing my vibe. We're trying to make Kikyou jealous here, not cause a murder spree.

Sango, as usual, could always be counted upon. "Don't you worry," she said sweetly, smiling at Kagome, "We'll help you through it. You want to help your sister, right? And Inuyasha? This will only mean good publicity for everyone."

Boom. They had her. "Of course," Kagome said with a nod, still looking at Inuyasha as if trying to assure him that the decision was, indeed, her own.

"Good. So we've got the LA Film Critics Award announcement next week, but the ceremony's not until-"

"January 13," Kagome supplied quietly.

"Right. Actually, next week is going to be crazy. No red carpet events, but LA Film Critics Awards and New York Film Critics Awards are announcing winners ahead of time, and then the Critics Choice and Golden Globe noms are announced live on TV. We need to get everyone out and visible and happy and keep everyone in the public eye."

"Aren't we visible enough already," Inuyasha groaned.

"Inuyasha, I'm surprised at you," Miroku said, "You know how all this works."

"I know, I know," Inuyasha said, taking out another cigarette, "I'm just fucking exhausted thinking about it."

"Well since everyone in here is going to be smoking, apparently," Kikyou said snippily, "We'll be leaving now." She turned to the front door and Nazuna opened it promptly and held it open.

"Kagome," Miroku said, "We'll give you a call tomorrow and go through our game plan for next week."

Kagome nodded weakly, glancing back over her shoulder once at Inuyasha before Kikyou ushered her out the door.

Inuyasha took the cigarette from his mouth, examined it, seemed to think about it for a second, and then said, "Fuck it," and stubbed it in the ashtray.

When they were in the car, Kagome gently placed the bundle of blue tulle on the limo floor. Kikyou crossed her legs, her foot bobbing up and down.

"Did you sleep with him?" Kikyou said sharply, looking out the window, arms folded.

"No," Kagome said, almost pleadingly, burying her face in her hands. Would people please stop asking that question? It hurt to hear it.

Kikyou turned to face her, lowering her sunglasses, almost gauging Kagome's reaction. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Kagome said, looking her square in the eye. I guess all isn't as forgiven as I thought…

"Well then," Kikyou said, replacing her sunglasses and returning to her gaze out the window, "I suppose we'd better go through my closets and find you a dress or two."

Kagome just nodded, looking down at the enormous sweatshirt. She looked utterly ridiculous in this oversized tent of a garment, silk boxers, and her high heels from the night before. She knew it, and she knew Kikyou knew it.

"That gown," Kikyou said without turning around, gesturing at the crumpled mess on the floor with her stilettoed foot, "It needs to be dry-cleaned. And it's coming out of your salary."

Kagome felt a lump in her throat, swallowed it, and said, "Understood."

Kikyou's just the worst sometimes, isn't she? But that's the marker of a narcissist - it's kind of always about what you want, and screw other people. There are definitely reasons why she is the way she is, and I hope that becomes clearer as we go along, but it doesn't excuse the behavior at all. Hey, at least Inuyasha's seeing the better side of her now? Right? Ugh, that boy, I swear, he just never learns, does he? Also I love how eager Miroku and Sango are for their grand plan to work and how discouraged they get when they have to be in a room with Kikyou for more than five minutes. Yeah, serves you right, ya doofheads.

Poor Kagome. I've been saying that a lot lately, haven't I? She's a wonderful enabling doormat-like teddy bear and I just want to give her a hug.

One other thing - I got an anonymous comment that I think (?) was trying to ask why there's such a weird brother-sister vibe between Inuyasha and Kagome at times, and I'm not sure how best to answer that. I don't think KAGOME sees it that way at all, and I think Inuyasha's just a blind idiot who doesn't know happiness when it's staring him straight in the face... They spent eight years together in the same house, and even though Inuyasha and Kikyou were the couple, it was really Inuyasha and Kagome who were (and are) the kindred spirits. It often takes a great deal of time for friendship to become anything more, out of risk of ruining what one already has with their friend, out of fear of being rejected, etc... I am in a very happy relationship of OVER eight years, and the best thing about it is that we're basically each other's best friend. I hope that explains it accurately; I thought I was making it clearer but I do apologize... Rest assured, the relationship does evolve. I just ask for your patience. This story is a bit of a crazy whirlwind and the characters have a lot to do and they all have their own damages and obstacles to overcome.

Hope you guys liked the chapter, I just needed to try and explain that as much as possible without ruining any twists and turns coming our way.

Thanks again so much for reading, and thanks for your reviews. Hope you like this chapter. -meggz0rz